S5412 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 25, 2012 

meet during the session of the Senate 

on July 25, 2012, at 10 a.m. in room SD– 

215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled 

‘‘Education Tax Incentives and Tax Reform.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the 

Senate on July 25, 2012, at 3 p.m., to 

hold a hearing entitled ‘‘Economic 

Statecraft: Increasing American Jobs 

Through Greater U.S.-Africa Trade and 

Investment (S. 2215, The Increasing 

American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2012).’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized 

to meet during the session of the Senate, on July 25, 2012, at 10 a.m., in room 

SH–216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Ensuring Judicial Independence Through 

Civics Education.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

Objection, it is so ordered. 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Special 

Committee on Aging be authorized to 

meet during the session of the Senate 

on July 25, 2012, at 2 p.m. in room 562 

of the Dirksen Senate Office Building 

to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Enhancing Women’s Retirement Security.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, FEDERAL SERVICES, AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee on 

Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security be authorized to meet during the session of 

the Senate on July 25, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. 

to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Assessing Grants Management Practices at 

Federal Agencies.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR 

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that Elizabeth 

Eickenberg, from Senator MERKLEY’s 

staff, be granted floor privileges for the 

remainder of the day. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

FOR THE RELIEF OF SOPURUCHI 

CHUKWUEKE 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 464, S. 285. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the bill by title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A bill (S. 285) for the relief of Sopuruchi 

Chukwueke. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the bill, which 

had been reported from the Committee 

on the Judiciary, with an amendment, 

as follows: 

(The part of the bill intended to be 

inserted is shown in italics.) 

S. 285 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 

other provision of law, for the purposes of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), Sopuruchi Chukwueke 

shall be deemed to have been lawfully admitted to, and remained in, the United States, 

and shall be eligible for adjustment of status 

to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under section 245 of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1255) upon filing an application for such adjustment of status. 

(b) APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF FEES.— 

Subsection (a) shall apply only if the application for adjustment of status is filed with 

appropriate fees not later than 2 years after 

the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(c) REDUCTION OF IMMIGRANT VISA NUMBERS.—Upon the granting of permanent resident status to Sopuruchi Chukwueke, the 

Secretary of State shall instruct the proper 

officer to reduce by 1, during the current or 

next following fiscal year, the total number 

of immigrant visas that are made available 

to natives of the country of the birth of 

Sopuruchi Chukwueke under section 202(a)(2) 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

U.S.C. 1152(a)(2)). 

(d) DENIAL OF PREFERENTIAL IMMIGRATION

TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN RELATIVES.—The natural parents, brothers, and sisters of Sopuruchi 

Victor Chukwueke shall not, by virtue of such 

relationship, be accorded any right, privilege, or 

status under the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I 

wish to express my support for S. 285, a 

private relief bill for Soptuuchi ‘‘Victor’’ Chukwueke. 

Mr. Chukwueke has a compelling 

story. He has suffered a serious medical 

condition, was abandoned by his parents, and was brought to the U.S. at a 

young age. He has endured several surgeries as a result of his serious medical 

condition, and has overcome many barriers to get where he is today. 

Despite his personal story and 

achievements, members of the Judiciary Committee were informed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

that he was an orphan and had no family in the U.S. or in Nigeria, his home 

country. We were led to believe that he 

had no family because that is how he 

represented himself during interviews 

with Federal agents. We found out 

later, however, that he still had a 

mother and father, and six siblings in 

Nigeria. Upon learning of this discrepancy, I immediately asked Immigration and Customs Enforcement to clear 

up these conflicting statements, and to 

provide any other background information or paper in his files, including 

interview notes to understand the line 

of questioning that took place between 

ICE and Mr. Chukwueke. ICE rejected 

sharing the file with members of the 

Judiciary Committee. After weeks of a 

standstill, ICE agreed to show committee staff what was in his alien file. 

The file was helpful because we could 

review interview notes, visa applications, pictures, and other notes on Mr. 

Chukwueke. 

Upon completing the review of the 

file, committee staff held a conference 

call with Mr. Chukwueke. During that 

interview, Mr. Chukwueke stated that 

he told investigators that he believed 

he was an orphan and that he had no 

intention of lying. For the record, I ask 

unanimous consent to have printed in 

the RECORD a copy of the sworn affidavit that was provided by Mr. 

Chukwueke to ICE and to members of 

the Judiciary committee. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

(See exhibit 1.) 

Mr. GRASSLEY. The committee reported S. 285 out of committee on July 

19. The committee-reported bill includes a provision that prohibits Mr. 

Chukwueke from using his status to 

sponsor immediate family for benefits 

under the Immigration and Nationality 

Act. The language in my amendment is 

identical to language used in other private relief bills. Similar language was 

included in bills in 1999 and 2000. Senator Levin, the sponsor of this private 

relief bill, supported the amendment. 

We always consider private relief 

bills on a case-by-case basis. In the 

case of Mr. Chukwueke, we were told 

that he did not have parents or family 

in the U.S. or in Nigeria. It turned out 

that was not the case. Those statements were inaccurate. He says he did 

not mean to mislead ICE agents about 

his family, but the fact is that he did. 

He did not tell the whole truth. 

As I said, in previous private relief 

bills, we have excluded private bill recipients from sponsoring immediate 

family members. That is not to say 

that the family members are barred 

from ever entering the country. It simply means they cannot use the private 

bill recipient’s special status to provide them a benefit or to gain derivative status. 

There are many worthwhile people 

who want to come or remain in the 

United States. However, there are bad 

actors and people who will perpetuate 

fraud in order to do so. People will go 

to great lengths to come to the United 

States. We need to be worried about individuals who will take advantage of 

our open door policies and manipulate 

the system to get a benefit. We need to 

be watchful for potential fraud and 

abuse of the system. 

If S. 285 passes the House and is sent 

to the President, Mr. Chukwueke may 

be able to attend medical school in the 

fall. He has the support of many upstanding individuals, including Senator 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE
July 25, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5413 

LEVIN. Mr. chukwueke is also supported by a number of people in his 

community. We received letters of recommendation from Wayne State University and the Daughters of Mary 

Mother of Mercy. 

I wish Mr. Chukwueke the best of 

luck in his future endeavors. 

EXHIBIT #1 

AFFIDAVIT OF SOPURUCHI VICTOR CHUKWUEKE

I, Sopuruchi Victor Chukwueke, swear 

under penalty of perjury that the following 

is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief: 

1. My name is Sopuruchi Victor 

Chukwueke. I write this statement in support of S.B. 285, a private bill introduced on 

my behalf by U.S. Senator Carl Levin. 

2. I was born in Nigeria on February 10, 

1986. During my early childhood, I developed 

a benign tumor caused by 

Neurofibromatosis, which grew on my frontal and right facial area, subsequently resulting in a very significant facial deformity. 

3. My mother took me to different hospitals for treatment but we were unable to 

find a facility or surgeon to treat my condition. At some point, she heard of a Catholic 

nun called Rev. Mother Paul Offiah who ran 

a handicap (orphanage) center for orphans, 

abandoned and neglected disabled children. 

The name of the center is called St. Vincent 

de Paul Handicap Center located in 

Umuahia, Abia, Nigeria. My mother took me 

there, explained the situation to Mother 

Offiah, and left me. I do not remember how 

old I was at that point, but I felt abandoned. 

4. Rev. Mother Paul Offiah took me in, fed 

and clothed me and became my sole parental 

figure, offering both emotional and financial 

support. My mother kept in contact with 

Mother Paul Offiah and came a few times to 

visit me at the center. I spent all my time 

there and Mother Paul Offiah started making arrangements for me to come to United 

States for life-saving treatment. 

5. Dr. Ian Jackson at Providence Hospital 

in Michigan agreed to perform the surgery 

free of charge. Several generous Nigerians 

assisted with the effort to raise funds to that 

I could travel to the U.S. for treatment. 

6. On August 21, 2001, when I was 15, Mother 

Offiah brought me to the United States on a 

B–2 visa and left me in the care of Sister 

Immaculata Osueke and other nuns in Lansing, Michigan. She then went back to Nigeria. I was authorized to stay in the U.S. until 

August 29, 2002. 

7. My application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status was rejected twice, because I could not afford the visa fee at the 

time. Also, the evidence submitted was 

signed by a clinical social worker instead of 

a licensed physician. The delay in filing for 

the third time was in part because I was having surgery during that time. I had my second major surgery on January 14, 2003. That 

period was a very difficult and stressful time 

in my life, because I had to prepare for surgery, undergo the painful surgery and postoperative recovery, and at the same time 

worry about my visa status. I was just 16 

years old at the time. 

8. In February 2003, my mother and father 

signed sworn affidavits to give up their parental rights, so I could be adopted here in 

the United States. 

9. In November 2003, I began to study for 

the GED at home while receiving treatment 

for Neurofibromatosis. In January 2004, I 

took the GED and passed it. 

10. A few years later, in 2006, Mother Offiah 

died of a brain tumor, leaving me with no parental figure in Nigeria who could provide 

for and support me with my medical condition. 

11. In May 2006, I enrolled at the Oakland 

Community College in Southfield, Michigan. 

My education was paid for by a Catholic benefactor, Mr. Jerry Burns. 

12. In August 2008, I graduated from Oakland Community College with an AA in 

Science and in September 2008, I transferred 

to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree. 

13. I had been abandoned by my family in 

an orphanage in Nigeria, and I felt I have no 

one to care for me there, especially after 

Mother Paul Offiah passed away. As I grew 

up in the United States and received medical 

treatment for my condition, I realized that 

my mother knew she could not provide for 

me and so she had entrusted me to the people who could take care of me. I realized that 

she had done the right thing at the time, 

given the circumstances. So I decided to 

reach out to my family again, especially my 

mother. 

14. Sister Immaculata Osueke reached out 

to other nuns at the orphanage in Nigeria to 

get my mother’s telephone number, so that I 

could try to reconnect with my family. 

15. I was chosen to give the commencement 

speech at the Wayne State University graduation in 2011. Dr. Kenneth Honn, my research professor, said that he want to bring 

my mother to witness ‘‘her son’s graduation.’’ He wrote an invitation letter for my 

mother to come visit me, but all of the travel arrangements were done by a Wayne State 

administrator, Mr. Christopher Harris. With 

the help of Dr. Honn, Mr. Harris, and Senator 

Levin’s letter to the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria, my mother came to visit me at my graduation from Wayne State last year. It was 

the first time I had seen her in more than 

ten years. She arrived a few hours before my 

graduation and returned to Nigeria on May 

16, 2011. 

16. Since my arrival in Michigan in 2001, 1 

have been in and out of the hospital, and 

ahve had seven major surgeries between 2002 

and 2011 to remove the Neurofibromatosis 

and reconstruct my face. 

17. In November 2011, I applied and was accepted by the University of Toledo, College 

of Medicine, conditioned on receiving lawful 

permanent residence in the United States on 

or before August 1, 2012. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Sopurucki Victor Chukwueke. 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed 

to, the bill, as amended, be read a third 

time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any 

statements related to the bill be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The committee-reported amendment 

was agreed to. 

The amendment was ordered to be 

engrossed, and the bill to be read a 

third time. 

The bill was read the third time. 

The bill (H.R. 285), as amended, was 

passed. 

(The bill will be printed in a future 

edition of the R

f 

ECORD.) 

SEQUESTRATION TRANSPARENCY 

ACT OF 2012 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 471, H.R. 

5872. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the bill by title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A bill (H.R. 5872) to require the President 

to provide a report detailing the sequester 

required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 on 

January 2, 2013. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the bill. 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the bill be 

read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 

table, and that any statements relating 

to the bill be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The bill (H.R. 5872) was ordered to a 

third reading, was read the third time, 

and passed. 

f 

ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 26, 

2012 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that when the 

Senate completes its business today, it 

adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, 

July 26; that following the prayer and 

pledge, the Journal of proceedings be 

approved to date, the morning hour be 

deemed expired, and the time for the 

two leaders be reserved for their use 

later in the day; that the majority 

leader be recognized, and that the first 

hour be equally divided and controlled 

between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling 

the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

PROGRAM 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, 

today the majority leader filed cloture 

on the motion to proceed to S. 3414, the 

Cybersecurity Act of 2012. If no agreement otherwise is reached, that vote 

would be on Friday. However, we hope 

to reach an agreement to hold that 

vote tomorrow. 

f 

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. 

TOMORROW 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, if 

there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous 

order. 

There being no objection, the Senate, 

at 7:07 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, 

July 26, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. 

f 

NOMINATIONS 

Executive nominations received by 

the Senate: 

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE

HUMANITIES

RANEE RAMASWAMY, OF MINNESOTA, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ARTS FOR A 

TERM EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 3, 2018, VICE MIGUEL 

CAMPANERIA, TERM EXPIRING. 

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES FOR PERSONNEL ACTION IN THE REGULAR CORPS OF THE COMMISSIONED 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE